Getting Started

Welcome!

I am planning on driving across the country and back starting on July 1. Traveling with me the whole way is my very good friend Jenna, and joining us where he can is our very good friend David. Friends and relatives are providing lodging, and camping will fill the gaps between hosts. All people and gear will fit into a Chrysler minivan, which will be adding somewhere around 10,000 miles to the odometer when all is said and done.

I (and my two travel mates) have just graduated from Virginia Tech, and this is admittedly a different kind of post-graduation "adventure." But ideas and energy catch on quickly, and once we had the idea for the trip, it was hard to turn back. I love action; I love the execution of ideas that seem right in your gut. It would have nagged me for a long time to wonder, "Man - how cool could that trip we thought of have been?" So instead, we planned, we have made it real - and it is one of the most exciting things I've ever faced.

This blog will serve as a record of the path we take and the people and places we come across. This will help keep me on track to document my trip, and hopefully there will also be some stories worth sharing. So, to start off, here's a rough idea of the route we're taking:

There are some turns and zigzags along the way, but we're hitting most of the places we set out to see - and all 48 (continental) states! (Yes, this includes Maine, which sadly Google Maps was not a fan of and cut out of my picture.)

Also, since many ask me why I'm traveling, I have put some time into answering that question in writing for myself. Here's a few of the broad goals I have for traveling:

1. See the United States. This may seem obvious, but I really do want to - because of my background and major in school, just exploring the country's infrastructure and environment is exciting in itself.

2. Stay off the interstates when possible. Our main routes will be US highways - an often forgotten (but fascinating) network of roads that hopefully offers more views, more variety, and more adventure when traveling. There may be times when we book it down the interstate in the interest of time, but for the most part, lesser known (and thus lesser crowded) roads will make up our path.

3. Inspire myself. I'm going to learn a lot - including a lot about myself - and that's a pretty exciting prospect. Whether it's motivation to live my life differently, to work hard so I can travel more, or just inspiration from seeing the country, I want to come back excited and ready to tackle what comes next.

4. Work on personal record-keeping. I've made feeble attempts at journaling, but none have stuck, and my goal is to change that. Writing this blog, taking pictures of this trip, and doing more of my own personal journaling are all ways I'm going to start "self-documenting."

5. Listen and find stories. With all the people we'll see across the country - planned and unplanned - I'm excited to hear their stories, and to make some more stories of my own.

If you have any must-see places in the country you'd like to recommend to us, let me know - we can't hit everything, but I'm open to hearing suggestions!

Cutter